If you are a novice OR experienced with automotive detailing, I still urge you to read through this book. This is a great book including detailed how-tos and product recommendations. It has full color pictures and charts for those that are visual learners. I don't take any credit for this guide as it was written by Michael (MikeyC) Cohen, provided by NESKO (New England S2000 Owners), I just want to share a great link with you all.

You can even print it out and put it together so you can carry a copy if you need to refer to certain steps as you detail.

The author seems to like the PC polisher (pretty normal). I prefer the Griots as it has measurably more torque (very important) and a cooling system so the pad never heats up (also very important). It's made by Makita, very very high quality as you would expect, and costs less than the PC. Works better in my opinion too, and its handle makes it easier to hold on to. Other than that a nice read! Ultimately, claying and polishing prior to waxing is a must. And of course the polisher should only be used to lay down polish and wax. Removal of polish and wax is best by hand and using special cloths to not scratch the surface.

How do you deal with the stuff that ends up in the cracks?? I did a bad job on my truck and it looks like hell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balls

Isn't all this common knowledge? ;-)

The author seems to like the PC polisher (pretty normal). I prefer the Griots as it has measurably more torque (very important) and a cooling system so the pad never heats up (also very important). It's made by Makita, very very high quality as you would expect, and costs less than the PC. Works better in my opinion too, and its handle makes it easier to hold on to. Other than that a nice read! Ultimately, claying and polishing prior to waxing is a must. And of course the polisher should only be used to lay down polish and wax. Removal of polish and wax is best by hand and using special cloths to not scratch the surface.

Lots of you say its common knowledge, and for that I'm glad your cars will be well taken care of. Even so, there are plenty of cars that go untreated and neglected of care. Although I have links to other guides, I posted this one because it, in my opinion, was well written and had the most clear examples of technique and application. The product choices are objectable from user to user, but thats also stated within the guide. I'm just glad I could be of some assistance here :headbang:

The author seems to like the PC polisher (pretty normal). I prefer the Griots as it has measurably more torque (very important) and a cooling system so the pad never heats up (also very important). It's made by Makita, very very high quality as you would expect, and costs less than the PC. Works better in my opinion too, and its handle makes it easier to hold on to. Other than that a nice read! Ultimately, claying and polishing prior to waxing is a must. And of course the polisher should only be used to lay down polish and wax. Removal of polish and wax is best by hand and using special cloths to not scratch the surface.

My 135 will be the first new car I've ever had, so taking good care of the paint has never been an issue for me before. I'd only recently heard of clay bars, for example.

My 135 will be the first new car I've ever had, so taking good care of the paint has never been an issue for me before. I'd only recently heard of clay bars, for example.

Of all the places (countries) I've lived, this place requires claying weekly in the summer. I don't know what [exactly] comes out of the trees, but your car is littered with a mist of clear sap you can barely see, but feel quite easily. Makes the wipers stick and move with a jerky motion unless you clay the windshield too (which I do). The stuff is hard to remove with a good handwashing. That usually doesn't get it all, so claying afterwards is a must. Again, the Griots is the best clay I've used. I'm sure Swissol (sp?) is good too which is available over here.

Never park under a tree in Germany in the summer! Between that and millions of insects that love to commit suicide on your front end and windshield, Germany is hell on cars!

It's funny, most Germans use auto car washes, so there's not a lot of great car cleaning products to be found on the local markets.

Hey this is GREAT!!! Thanks so much for sharing. Most of the things discussed in this manual are items I have heard before. But, to have them all in one place is very helpful. This will also be a great help to a buddy of mine who just bought a Cayman S, and has no idea how to wash it. I wanna say he already took it to an auto car wash.